News: Suppliers
3 October 2023
IQE launches first 6” InP DFB laser platform for AI and data-center applications
Epiwafer and substrate maker IQE plc of Cardiff, Wales, UK has announced what it says is the industry’s first 150mm (6") indium phosphide (InP) platform enabling the scaled production of electro-optic devices at the core of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and cloud data-center networks.
In collaboration with the University of Glasgow’s James Watt Nanofabrication Centre and its commercial arm Kelvin Nanotechnology (a supplier of nanofabrication services for prototyping and production), IQE has developed a process-ready 6” distributed feedback (DFB) InP laser wafer platform, enabling customers to deliver high-volume laser solutions supporting the rapid growth in high-speed optical data links.
IQE says that its data infrastructure semiconductor materials are employed across a diverse range of transceiver platforms. As a pioneer in InP, it is further demonstrating the technology’s scalability, enabling a step change in volume manufacturing to satisfy an increasing demand for DFB lasers. The firm adds that this also ensures that optical interconnect technology remains cost competitive, as network traffic scales to meet the requirements of generative AI and data-intensive applications.
“We are pleased to be able to offer our data-infrastructure customers an industry-first: laser epitaxy on a 6” InP wafer platform,” says Peter Rabbeni, senior VP, IQE’s Communications Infrastructure & Security business unit. “Scaling our current laser materials technology to deliver a fab-ready service at this size provides an immediate competitive advantage and faster time to market,” he adds.
“We are delighted to be able to demonstrate a DFB grating technology fully deployed on a 6” InP platform with high yield and uniformity, and we look forward to working with IQE in bringing this capability to the market,” comments Kelvin Nanotechnology’s CEO Dr Brendan Casey.
